Stand out from the crowd and make your own gift basket, it's EASIER than you think!
In fact making a gift basket was never easier with these helpful STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS that will teach you everything you need to know.
Be sure to scroll down to read the valuable tips and make a gift basket that's definitely going to leave a LASTNG IMPRESSION on your lucky recipient!
Follow These Steps to Success
Choose a suitable work space. You'll need a flat surface to work on and you’ll also need to have all your
basket making supplies
close by, so make sure you have plenty of room to spread out. A kitchen bench or table works just fine.
Before you make your own gift basket lay your gifts out together on your work space and remove any price labels or extra packaging that isn’t required. Some gifts will look better presented in their bags or boxes some won’t, use your own judgment here.
Take a really good look and decide if any of your gifts would benefit from that little bit extra. For example a wash cloth for including in a spa basket will look much more appealing presented rolled up and tied with a small bow. Simply fold in half, then roll up and secure with a small length of ribbon.
Tip: Gift containers such as large baskets, empty picnic hampers or magazine totes will need to be filled first, you want your goodies sitting on top in full view!
Scrunch up several sheets of plain newsprint and stuff them into your
container
until just level with the top. Cover the paper with a piece of
interfacing
in white, black or a color that compliments your overall theme. Make sure the paper is covered completely and tuck the edges of the interfacing in neatly around the paper.
As you place your gifts on top of the interfacing push them down gently so the gifts sit just inside the rim of the gift container. It's also a good idea to place heavier items items such as bottles of wine at the back of your container.
Place your smaller gifts at the front of your container. You can fill any gaps with small balls of scrunched up tissue paper or cellophane which will also help to keep your gifts secure.
Get Fantastic Results with these Important Tips
Although there are no hard and fast rules for gift placement, it’s worth spending some time experimenting until you feel your gift basket looks “just right”. Aim for some kind of symmetry and balance. Not only will this give your gift basket a more professional edge, it also means it's less likely to topple over!
If you're using
empty gift boxes
fill the bottom part of the box with just enough padding (excelsior or paper shred works well here) so that your gifts sit just below the top of the box. Take care not to use too much padding though, or you'll have trouble getting the lid of the box on!
Place your presents in the box facing up like shown in this picture and try to fill in all the spaces.
The box should be just big enough that everything fits together nice and snugly.
The gifts are far less likely to get damaged in transit if they can't move around much inside the box.
If you're making a gift basket to include something like a picture frame and you want to leave the frame in it's box, cover the box with some wrapping paper that co-ordinates with your color scheme BEFORE you place it in your basket. Plain paper works best, try white, black, silver or gold, something simple! Check out how to wrap a gift
if you need help with this step.
Pay attention to detail! Make sure you do up any open zips that may be on the outside of a bag or hamper and most important ensure you place all your gifts the right way up with the labels facing the front!
Newsprint works well to stuff your baskets, hampers or any large gift containers with as it's tougher than tissue and will give a much denser base. Just make sure you use the unprinted variety to avoid getting ink stains on your hands or worse still your lovely presents!
Making a basket with delicate or breakable items such as lingerie or champagne flutes? Try presenting them in a beautiful gift box instead. This way the items will be able to stay flat and have the added protection of a box lid.
Check out this excellent video which will give you an idea of the CORRECT way to place your items in your basket. Also shows how to wrap a basket using a CELLOPHANE BAG and the simplicity of using pull bows!
